Your Child’s First Visit
If you have never been to Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces before, we would like to offer you and your child a warm and sincere welcome on behalf of our entire team.
If your child has never been to a dentist’s office before, we are honored that you have chosen our practice to take part in such a big milestone in their life. There are a few questions that we typically receive about first appointments that we have outlined and answered below. If you have any further questions or concerns, or you haven’t made an appointment with us yet and you would like to, please get in touch with our front office team and we will be happy to assist!
Your First Appointment with Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces
It is generally recommended that parents begin bringing their children in for regular visits by the time they are one year old or their first tooth has grown in, whichever happens first. This may seem early, but it’s important to start checking the gums and the teeth that have begun to come in to ensure that they are healthy and everything is looking good. We personally recommend choosing a primary dental home for your child as early as possible, so the dentist’s office will feel familiar and less scary as they get older. If your child is older than one and hasn’t seen a dentist yet- don’t worry! We will be more than happy to see them when you are able to bring them in for their first appointment. We’re looking forward to it, and we hope your little one is too!
What can I do to make the dentist seem less scary?
If your child has never been to a dental practice before or has already begun to develop a fear of dental offices, there are a few things you can do to make things easier for them (and you!) For starters, we recommend bringing children in for a tour of our office before their first appointment, so they can meet our team and get a feel for our practice. We also recommend speaking about dentistry to your child in a positive tone, and without using words like “needle,” “shot,” “drill,” or “hurt.” Our team also makes a point of not using unpleasant words and gently emphasizing the importance of dental care to children. Finally, you are always welcome, and encouraged, to accompany your child during their appointment so they feel more comfortable.
What if my child needs a lot of dental work taken care of?
It can be nerve-wracking to hear that your child needs a root canal or a dental extraction, but our compassionate dental team has been trained to make dental procedures for children as easy and painless as possible. Our team employs the “Tell-Show-Do” method, which means we always explain our treatments to patients in a kid-friendly way, and demonstrate how each tool is used before using it. We also offer relaxing sedation options for kids, like laughing gas, that can be used during minor procedures or to relieve general dental anxiety during routine exams and cleanings. If there is anything we can do to make dentist appointments better for your child, please just let us know. Our team is happy to accommodate patients and parents in any way we can!
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